Title
Profiling the preterm or VLBW born adolescent; implications of the Dutch POPS cohort follow-up studies
Author
van der Pal-de Bruin, K.M.
van der Pal, S.M.
Verloove-Vanhoricka, S.P.
Walther, F.J.
Publication year
2015
Abstract
In 1983, data of a unique nationwide cohort of 1338 very preterm (< 32 weeks of gestation) or VLBW (birth weight < 1500 g) infants in the Netherlands was collected and followed at several ages until they reached the age of 19 years. At 19 years of age a more extensive follow-up study was done, including questionnaires, tests on a computer and a full physical exam. These studies provide insight into how Dutch adolescents at 19 years of age, who were born very preterm or with a very low birth weight (VLBW), reach adulthood. At 19 years, 705 POPS participants participated (74% of 959 still alive). Outcome measures at 19 years included: physical outcomes (e.g. blood pressure), cognition, behavior, quality of life, and impact of handicaps. The POPS participants showed more impairments on most outcome measures at various ages, compared to norm data. Major handicaps remained stable as the children grew older, but minor handicaps and disabilities increased. At 19 years of age, only half (47.1%) of the survivors had no disabilities and no minor or major handicaps. Especially those born small for gestational age (SGA) seem most vulnerable. These long-term results help to support preterm and SGA born children and adolescents in reaching independent adulthood, and stress the need for long term follow-up studies and to promote prevention of disabilities and of preterm birth itself.
Subject
Behavioural Changes
CH - Child Health
ELSS - Earth, Life and Social Sciences
Work and Employment
Workplace
Healthy Living
Preterm birth
Pops
Long-term outcomes
Preterm birth
Academic achievement
Adolescence
Adolescent
Behavior
Birth
Cognition
Cohort analysis
Disability
Follow up
Gestational age
Mortality
Outcome assessment
Physical activity
Premature labor
Prematurity
Quality of life
Review
Very low birth weight
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:507dcbe5-0a4d-4144-98e6-52fd14e3960b
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2014.12.007
TNO identifier
521339
Source
Early Human Development, 91 (2), 97-102
Document type
article